Narendra Modi: Timeline

* Father Damodardas used to run tea shop. As a boy, Modi would help him by selling tea at Vadnagar railway station

* Modi weds but marriage not consummated

* A devout Hindu, the young Modi was attracted by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh's (RSS) discipline and authority. He was impressed by the fact that only one person gave all the orders in the Shakha and everyone followed the command

* In 1967, he broke away from his family

* After 1971 war, Modi joined RSS as pracharak.

* Did BA (Honours) in Political Science and MA from Gujarat University

* After serving RSS for a decade and a half, in 1988, was made general secretary of BJP's Gujarat unit

* In 1991, organised and accompanied then BJP president Murli Manohar Joshi on the Kanyakumari-Srinagar Ekta Yatra (Unity March)

* In 1995, Modi played a role at the party's national level. In 1998, promoted as general secretary (organization)

* On Oct 7, 2001, sworn in as Gujarat chief minister

* In December 2002, returns with a massive majority

* In December 2007, sworn in as chief minister for the second time

* In December 2012, sworn in as Gujarat chief minister for the third time